Lessons from Jeremiah 18: God Is Working – Part III

So far in Jeremiah 18, we know God speaks and we know God is working. Yet we can still struggle with not seeing results like we would want. Psalm 104:31-32 says,

"May the glory of the LORD endure forever;

may the LORD rejoice in his works,

who looks on the earth and it trembles,

who touches the mountains and they smoke!”

We love those times when God is not even subtle; when we see a quick cause and effect to His working. I asked the Lord to help me with this, and the word He gave me wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but what I needed.

Patience.

We can find plenty of people who will tickle our ears and tell us what we want to hear. God loves us too much to do that.

James 5:7-8 reminds us that it would be a rare day we plant a seed and harvest all in the same moment,

“Be patient, therefore, brothers,

until the coming of the Lord.

See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,

being patient about it,

until it receives the early and the late rains.

You also, be patient.

Establish your hearts,

for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

Godly patience doesn’t just wait. It waits with hopeful expectation of what is to come. It may be eternity before we actually see the result of God’s working, but Galatians 6:9 says,

“And let us not grow weary of doing good,

for in due season we will reap,

if we do not give up.”

We rejoice in all He allows us to see. Then with cheerful expectation, we trust His timing with great anticipation of what’s ahead.